Echoes of the Past

Chapter 10 Small risk equals no risk

Racial talent is an aspect that Nora must consider.

The Evergreen Deer can quickly heal injuries by consuming their antlers and apply a continuous, slow self-healing effect to themselves, making them mobile blood banks and a second life for the Evergreen Deer in emergencies.

As a material, it is classified as belonging to the plant element. Because of its vigorous vitality and elemental power, it is loved by potion makers, alchemists, and even necromancers.

Even if limited by conditions that prevent fine processing, simply grinding it into powder and taking it with water can still have a fairly strong therapeutic effect.

Whether to actively break the corner or just break one branch is beyond Nan'an's knowledge base.

"Keeping one is enough to save your life. Losing one for now won't matter. If you really suffer a fatal wound, you'll still die."

Suiyue said casually, placing her hand on the base of the left antler, her palm glowing with a lustrous green light.

Nan An tried to stop her, but it was no use. He was just a summoned creature and couldn't control Sui Yue's hand to stop her from "self-harming".

The green light lasted for a few seconds, and then the large, smooth, jade-like horn fell off.

"Hiss..." Now that things had come to this, Nan'an could only ask the person involved about their experience, "How did it feel?"

"Don't be so nervous." Suiyue weighed the broken horn in her hand and comforted him instead. "It's not as painful as you think if you actively guide it to break. And as long as you eat and drink well, it will grow back very quickly."

"Giggle~~~"

Nan'an heard a strange sound: "What's wrong?"

"Oh, it's nothing, I'm just chewing on it."

"..."

Why aren't you saying anything? Do you think it's strange to be doing this?

Nan An said tactfully, "I am a pure-blooded human, and I sometimes feel a cognitive gap with hybrids."

Suiyue explained, "I'm sensing my angular density, which is a sign of good health... *slurp*"

"And what about licking the corner?"

"It's so slippery, I can't help myself." Suiyue said matter-of-factly, "I've heard that some collectors especially like horns, maybe they can even fetch a good price from a collectible perspective... By the way, do you like them?"

"I prefer characters that have vitality."

"Oh, so that means things with body heat are better, is that a fair understanding?"

Based on the current conversation, Nan'an could already veer into a strange realm with his eyes closed.

Ultimately, why did the topic turn out this way? Shouldn't they be discussing making money and taking risks?

"Stop, stop right now." Nan'an cut her off decisively. "Let's put aside the topic of aesthetics for now. Your priority is to sell it and make money."

"Ugh, dealing with businessmen is the most annoying thing."

People like Suiyue who hunt, gather, and scavenge would all want to shove the black marketeer's head into the cobblestones and stomp on it to make sure he's dead.

Nan'an clicked his tongue and said, "Who said it has to be sold to merchants?"

Suiyue tilted her head and realized that her center of gravity was a bit off, and she felt a noticeable slump in her shoulders, so she twisted her body rather uncomfortably.

Only one corner was broken; I need to get used to it.

"Then who should we sell to?"

……

……

Using the excuse that "there are still questions about the application materials for the Fog Breaker that need to be verified," Suiyue naturally turned the tables and precisely timed her move to lunchtime.

Pirion's lips twitched slightly; his pride in his ability to control his expressions was facing an unprecedented test.

In the end, Suiyue managed to get the meal for free.

The location was chosen in an open-air courtyard near the main gate.

Instead of bringing back the departing magicians to witness the event, Pirion used a recording crystal to record the entire process.

He had a bad feeling that if this caused trouble in the future, the report that needed to be submitted directly to the Senate would be very difficult to write.

During the meal, Suiyue enjoyed her food immensely while secretly marveling at the accuracy of Nan'an's prediction.

Pirion's proposed solution was to buy the broken corner of Suiyue in his personal capacity at a fixed price, and then announce that he would resell it to residents in the wealthy area of ​​Kren through a public auction.

He personally will also donate an additional sum equal to the final auction price to fund the repair of public facilities in Kren City.

Of the entire process, only the final part involving the repair of public facilities was unexpected by Nan'an; everything else was correct.

She asked quietly, "Why?"

“Pierreon is eager for us to leave, but if he buys it himself, he'll be accused of ‘funding’ or ‘transaction.’ The safest way is to organize a bidding process and let others compete. That way, if anyone investigates later, he can claim that the governor is working for the benefit of the nobles of the territory, muddying the waters and dragging more people into it,” Nan’an analyzed. “As for donating money for repairs… that’s a further ‘layering of armor,’ increasing the public good and legitimacy of his actions, essentially anticipating others’ predictions.”

It doesn't matter anymore.

In the end, it was a win-win situation.

Pirion broke free from the entanglement.

Suiyue obtained a piece of algae stone of stable quality.

Algaestone was first discovered in the year 201 of the Black Mist Calendar.

Unlike Windgrass, it is not produced within the Black Mist, but is a newly discovered mineral in areas that have not yet been eroded by the Black Mist.

Its shape is very similar to a pebble, and it exhibits a state in which white and green crystals coexist, like the two poles of a magnet.

When venturing deep into the black fog, if danger is encountered, the white pole of the algae stone will emit light as a warning.

But what the fog breakers rely on more often is its green pole.

This is also the key reason why scholars who have studied black fog and algae stones throughout the ages have been unable to understand it.

If the Fogbreaker buries the algae stone in soil that has not been eroded by the black fog for a day before setting off, then once deep inside the black fog, unless there is an extremely unusual accident, the green light of the algae stone will always point to the buried place.

Windgrass can be interpreted as a plant that adapted to the black fog and underwent a special evolution.

How should we understand algae stones?

All the phycoliths discovered to date possess the unique property of being culturable.

By "feeding" the Nightmare Fragments that can be obtained by defeating Nightmasses in the Black Mist, it can grow like a plant.

The abundance of minerals, which should have taken a long geological period to develop, can be observed and generated at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Both the Wind-blown Grass and the Algae Stone can be considered anomalies that appeared in this world after the black mist spread.

Under normal circumstances, sealing or attempting to destroy the item would be a good course of action.

Its widespread use, to the point that it has become indispensable for fog-breakers' explorations, presents a huge hidden danger no matter how you look at it.

But unfortunately, after the black fog spread, everything changed.

Treating minor risks as no risks is the norm most of the time; it's like closing your eyes and letting the world go dark.

With the two essential items in hand, Suiyue only needs to wait for the assessment.

Nan'an asked, "Have you looked into the main content of the assessment?"

"Oh, that's simple. It's directly related to combat strength. If you can win, you pass the test."